I wasn't going to post this yet but one of our readers is going through a rough time so this chapter is dedicated to her.

Death Shall Come On Swift Wings To Him Who Disturbs the Peace of the King...

In 1891 a young Englishman named Howard Carter arrives in Egypt. Over the years he becomes convinced that there is at least one undiscovered tomb... That of the almost unknown King Tutankhamen.

Damon awakens slowly. He's on his side, pressed into Elena's warm body. His arms are around her, one hand cupping her breast. Closing his eyes, he nuzzles his face into her hair and pulls her closer.

When a soft hand glides across his already hard length, his eyes snap open. Elena's small fingers are tracing the contours of his erection. Futilely he tries to suppress the groan that escapes then he shifts slightly and teases the spot behind her ear with his tongue. She rolls to face him, his member still in her hand as she continues to stroke him. The way she looks at him with her dark sleepy eyes makes him even harder. His gaze locks with hers causing her to tighten her grip, allowing her to pull moisture from the tip. Catching it with her thumb, she spreads it around the head.

"Good morning," she says in a soft, low voice.

God, she is perfect. In his entire life, he's never seen anyone as beautiful as the woman who said "I do."

He reaches down and hooks her leg behind the knee, pulling it up over his hip so that he can run his fingers down her stomach and into her warmth. He moans at how ready she is from just touching him.

"Mmmm," he murmurs as he teases her clit, earning a heady gasp from her luscious mouth. He leans forward for a taste and the deeper he kisses her, the harder she strokes.

"Damon," she moans, as his lips trail down her neck and his fingers slip inside of her.

"On your knees," he grunts and sucks her hard pink nipple into his mouth, scraping it lightly with his teeth.

With a deep audible breath, Elena pulls away slightly, rolls onto her stomach and brings her knees up to display her curvaceous ass. Meeting those brown eyes again, he loses himself for a few seconds for in those earthy hues is the kind of beauty that expands a moment into a personal eternity.

Slowly he swipes his tongue over his lips at the desire he sees burning in them.

With the same hunger reflecting in his own, he traces up her leg with his mouth as he moves to kneel behind her, taking in every inch of her body and enjoying the view immensely. His hands squeeze and mold her perfect backside.

With an ardent moan, she pushes back, rubbing herself against his length.

"Please, Damon," she whimpers, tantalizing him with a wiggle.

He pulls his hips back, positioning himself before slamming into her warmth. His hands grip her waist, holding her still while he fights back the release that already wants to rip its way out of him. Elena arches her back earning an intense groan from Damon at the way her body grips his considerable length even tighter. He pulls out slowly and then slams back inside, pulling her back against him as he thrusts forward.

"Damon," Elena gasps as her head flies back

As much as he wants to let go, he keeps up the rhythm, repeatedly earning a needy whimper from her lips.

Her hands snake under the pillows to press against the headboard, giving her leverage to push back with each of his forward thrusts, increasing the maddeningly glorious friction.

Damon tries to maintain the pace, but Elena arches and grinds back against him, trying to get everything he has to give.

Faster.

Harder.

Deeper.

His grips tightens with one hand while the other snakes around her belly and between her legs. His hips pound relentlessly, racing them both toward their release. Using the pad of his index finger, he rubs her little bundle of nerves and listens for the change in her breathing which tells him she's close.

Elena chants his name as her hands push harder against the headboard. The few seconds before an orgasm feel so primal— she's not focusing on anything else except this rising, inexplicable wave. Her body tenses, her hands drop and she whimpers as the giant explosion starts deep inside and radiates from her belly button to her clitoris.

Feeling her walls fluttering around him, he nearly loses his mind at how good it is. Continuing his relentless pursuit, Damon feels his release beginning to build and chases after it. His free hand plants into the mattress on one side of Elena's head and his teeth sink into her flesh as it explodes out of him, ripping an intense groan from his throat.

He collapses over her back until he can suck in a much needed breath of air. Pulling out gently, he rolls off of her and onto his side. As soon as Elena shifts to face him, he draws her close and cradles her in his arms. He kisses her deeply then pulls away, throws his legs over the side and sits up.

"As much as I'd like to stay in bed and do this all day with you, we have to get to work," he pouts adorably.

Elena gives him a beaming smile, lets him pull her out of bed and into the shower for another round before they quickly dress and hurry to the dig sight in Egypt's Valley of the Kings.

November 1922

Egypt's Valley of the Kings is a desolate place. Located near the Nile River across from the ancient city of Thebes*, the arid valley supports no vegetation and provides no shelter from the relentless sun. The ground is a mixture of sand and small rocks that broil in the sun's heat. Temperatures average 90 degrees Fahrenheit during winter, in summer they soar into the 120s.

This is the place the Egyptian pharaohs of over 3000 years ago chose to be interred in tombs buried beneath the lifeless landscape. Surrounded in death by treasures of unimaginable value, the pharaohs hoped to elude discovery by grave robbers that had violated the burial vaults of their predecessors. Their efforts were unsuccessful; thieves pillaged all of the buried tombs in the valley - except one, that of Tutankhamen who died around 1346 B.C.

"Dammit," Elena snaps, slapping at a mosquito. Her skin is damp with sweat as she's covered to protect her skin. She and her husband Damon are archeologists working with Howard Carter's team.

"What's the matter?"

"Mosquitoes. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't curse but..."

Damon stands up and walks over to her, lifts the netting from her face and presses a quick kiss to her lips. Wiping the sweat from his brow with his forearm, he looks around, nodding when Mr. Carter waves his arm for them to join him.

"He's back," Elena mentions, knowing that Lord Carnarvon had summoned him back to England to discuss the search. After they quickly take a swallow of water from their canteen, they hurry over to where he's standing.

"What does he have with him?" Damon looks at Elena curiously. When they're close enough, they can see he has a yellow canary in a birdcage.

Stepping in beside Damon is another man, Mr. Carter's foreman, Reis Ahmed. When they're within a few feet of their leader, the corners of his mouth lift.

"A golden bird!" Reis exclaims, "It will lead us to the tomb!"

Later in the day, she and Damon start clearing away some debris left over from the building of the tomb of Ramesses IV. Suddenly Elena's eyes widen when she finds a step cut into the rock. Standing up, she tugs on her husband's shirt.

"Look here," she shouts excitedly, pointing to her discovery.

"I love you Elena," he kisses her soundly then whistles to the others, signaling with his arm for some of the other workers to join them.

"Mr. Carter, over here," Elena yells when she sees him. His mouth drops for a moment and he quickly orders the steps to be cleared of sand and debris.

"Great work, Elena."

His eyes meet hers then drift to the door, his smile widening as he runs his fingertips over the words.

"Elena, I think we may have found it," he grabs her hand, holding it tightly for a few seconds. Too excited to sleep, they all stay at the site overnight and by noon the next day the doorway is revealed. This door is stamped with the seal of the royal necropolis. It depicts Anubis standing above five defeated enemies.

"I can't believe it, after all this time..."

"This is what archeology is," he shakes Damon's hand and then those of the rest of his workmen. "Listen it's late, we'll keep guards here for the night and return first thing in the morning. Get some sleep, you'll need it."

"Thank you, Mr. Carter."

He nods and quickly departs to send a telegram to Lord Carnarvon.

Have made wonderful discovery in valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact, re-covered same for your arrival; Congratulations.

As much as Damon and Elena want to burst through that door right now, they'll have to wait to see how their benefactor wants them to proceed. Walking backwards up the steps, she links her hand with Damon's and together head back to their place.

When he arrives home that night, Howard Carter is met at the door by his servant. In his hand he clutches a few yellow feathers. His eyes large with fear, he reports that the canary has been killed by a cobra. Carter tells the man to make sure the snake is out of the house. Not wanting to be dismissed, the man grabs Carter by the sleeve, stopping him in his tracks.

"The pharaoh's serpent ate the bird because it led us to the hidden tomb! You must not disturb the tomb!"

*Thebes is Modern day Luxor.

I hope you liked the first chapter of this very short story. You all know how I love to write DE into the history books. :)

Please keep my dearest friend Eva in your thoughts, she's not been feeling well.

I did post "Frostbitten" a couple of weeks ago. It's a lighthearted & fun romp in the snow. ;)

Thanks to all of you. You're the best, you lift our spirits when we're down and keep us excited to keep writing for this fandom.

Have a terrific day. We'll see you next time.